Jim Herbert: New Business Development Manager for Loudoun Economic Development

Loudoun, Virginia Economic Development announces that it has hired Jim Herbert as the department’s new business development manager. The department’s former business development officer, Buddy Rizer, was promoted to assistant director earlier this year.

Herbert brings more than 25 years of experience in business management and development to his new position. Most recently, he served for more than five years as the managing partner of GlobalStrat, a management consulting firm focused on business development. Prior to that, he was the vice president of business development for E.J. Krause and Associates, a trade show management company with international and national clients. Herbert also cofounded and served as partner of the Association Management Bureau, which provided professional staff and administrative support for nonprofit trade organizations.

“Jim was born and raised in Loudoun, and has a passion to strengthen Loudoun as a great community to live, work and play. He has extensive private sector business development experience, particularly in trade shows and international business development,” said Loudoun, Virginia Economic Development Director Tom Flynn.

Early this year, the department’s budget was enhanced to support hiring three additional business development officers. One of Herbert’s first responsibilities will be recruiting those staff, along with filling a business retention position that recently became vacant.

“Jim will lead our eight-member commercial business development team, which is focused on attracting, expanding and retaining companies in identified industries,” explained the department’s Assistant Director Buddy Rizer. “That includes small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Herbert will perform a targeted outreach program that includes conducting business meetings, participating in industry events and activities, and building social capital in local, regional and national organizations and associations. The goal is to strengthen the county’s economy by increasing the number and size of Loudoun-based businesses.

“I know first-hand the business advantages of locating in Loudoun,” Herbert said. “We have one of the best-educated and technically advanced workforces in the world, in the richest county in America. We have immediate access to 80 percent of the world’s economies through Washington Dulles International Airport, and up to 70 percent of the world’s Internet traffic flows through Loudoun-based data centers every day. I look forward to helping many more executives successfully build and expand their companies in Loudoun County.”